Day 7 Dakar 2014: Barreda Wins Another

After a day of rest, Sunday’s stage seven was characterized by rain during the night and a new Dakar country – Bolivia. After an early start at 4:30 in the morning, the first 62 miles of the special stage into Bolivia had to be shortened due to rain and poor visibility, low-hanging clouds that prevented the helicopters from taking off creating security issues.

The route led across the Andes and towards the Bolivian border. The air was again thin, as the riders had to climb up to 3,600 metres altitude. The 84 remaining motorcycle racers had to stay very concentrated and couldn´t really enjoy the scenic landscape. The layout of the course wasn’t very technical, but the navigation proved extremely demanding with many possible options from which to choose.

Provisional results Stage 7:
1. Joan Barreda (ESP, Honda) 03:28:41 hrs
2. Marc Coma (ESP, KTM) +00:04:03
3. Cyril Despres (FRA, Yamaha) +00:05:35
4. Juan Pedrero Garcia (ESP, Sherco) +00:06:57
5. Jakub Przygonski (POL, KTM) +00:08:56
6. Jeremias Israel Esquerre (CHL, Speedbrain) +00:10:04
7. Helder Rodrigues (PRT, Honda) +00:10:57
8. Mario Patrao (PRT, Suzuki) +00:11:27
9. Olivier Pain (FRA, Yamaha) +00:11:37
10. Jordi Viladoms (ESP, KTM) +00:11:57

Provisional overall standings:
1. Marc Coma (ESP, KTM) 26:40:44 hrs
2. Joan Barreda (ESP, Honda) +00:38:14
3. Jordi Viladoms (ESP, KTM) +01:16:03
4. Alain Duclos (FRA, Sherco) +01:16:35
5. Jeremias Israel Esquerre (CHL, Speedbrain) +01:39:29
6. Olivier Pain (FRA, Yamaha) +01:50:42
7. Jakub Przygonski (POL, KTM) +01:54:52
8. Helder Rodrigues (PRT, Honda) +02:08:18
9. David Casteu (FRA, KTM) +02:23:50
10. Cyril Despres (FRA, Yamaha) +02:26:13

By Tom Roderick